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NEW YORK STATE LOCAL HISTORY 
SOURCE LEAFLETS 




PREPARED BY THE DIVISION OF 
ARCHIVES AND HISTORY 



10- 9^1101 



THE ACT OF 1795 FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT 

OF SCHOOLS AND THE PRACTICE IN 

WESTCHESTER COUNTY 



ROBERT FRANCIS SEYBOLT PH. D. 

(I 



ALBANY 

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

19 19 



Yi9r-Si9-2000 (7-1931) 



NOTE 

Doctor Seybolt called to the attention of this Division that he 
had made transcripts of certain important documents relating to 
the operation of the common school law of 1795 in the town of 
Westchester in Westchester county. He granted the request of this 
Division that he should edit them for publication. Though the 
law of 1795 itself is easily accessible in print, it is reproduced here 
for the convenience of the reader. 

It is to be hoped that the publication of the kind of material 
found for this town may serve to inspire a research for similar 
material in the other towns and counties of the State. Much of 
this valuable source material has been lost or destroyed, but such 
as we have should be published to the end that a more thorough un- 
derstanding may be had of this educational statute for the encour- 
agement of common schools, and perhaps why it failed of reenact- 
ment in 1800. 

James Sullivan 
[2] 






THE ACT OF 1795 FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF 
SCHOOLS, AND THE PRACTICE IN WESTCHESTER 

COUNTY 

The law of April 9, 1795, entitled "An Act for the encourage- 
ment of Schools," is New York's first general statute concerning 
elementary schools. It represents the first attempt to establish a 
system of common schools throughout the State, and, as such, de- 
serves more than the passing mention it has received. The student 
of the history of education, to whom the town records are not 
available, must wonder what became of this promising plan; and 
the only enlightenment he obtains is from a brief statement by S. S. 
Randall, which would seem to indicate that, although the system 
broke down in many places before the expiration of the law in 
1800, it must have been fairly successful for at least three years. 
Randall, writing in 1851, states that "An abstract of these returns, 
from sixteen out of the twenty-three counties of the State, for 
the year 1798, shows a total of 1352 schools, organized according 
to the act, in which 59,660 children were taught."^ If these figures, 
from approximately seven-tenths of the counties, are correct, at 
least one-tenth of the population of the State received elementary 
instruction in the schools administered in accordance with the 
terms of the statute. 

One hundred thirty years earlier, in the first year of the Eng- 
lish occupation, the Province of New York required that all chil- 
dren receive a certain amount of elementary education. It will be 
recalled that the Duke of York's laws, of 1665, contained the very 
definitive order that " The Constables and Overseers are strictly 
required frequently to Admonish the Inhabitants of Instructing 
their Children and Servants in Matters of Religion and the Lawes 
of the Country." This was New York's first enactment concern- 
ing education at all, and it was a compulsory education law. In 
the practice established by this legislation, all children received in- 
struction not only in " Matters of Religion and the Lawes of the 
Country," but also in reading, writing, and arithmetic — the cus- 
tomary elementary curriculum.^ The inhabitants were not obliged 
to send their children, and servants or apprentices, to school, but 

1 S. S. Randall, The Common School System in the State of New York 
(Troy, 1851), 6. 

2R. F. Seybolt, Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Education in Colonial 
New England and New York (New York, 1917). ch. V-IX. 

[3] 



they were required to " instruct or cause to be instructed " all chil- 
dren in their care. Instruction was given by parents, masters, older 
children, tutors, ministers and schoolmasters. 

The act of 1795 presents an interesting experiment designed to 
provide elementary schools for the entire State. It had long been 
recognized by the leaders of the period that there was urgent need 
of a statewide system of elementary education. Governor George 
Clinton, in his message to the Legislature of January 3, 1795, said: 

While it is evident that the general establishment and liberal endowment 
of academies are highly to be commended and are attended with the most 
beneficial consequences ; yet it cannot be denied that they are principally 
conferred on the children of the opulent and that a great proportion of 
the community is excluded from their immediate advantage ; the establish- 
ment of the common school throughout the state is happily calculated to 
remedy this inconvenience and will therefore reengage your early and 
decided attention. ^ 

After a brief discussion of this section of the Governor's speech, 
the Assembly on January nth appointed a committee to consider 
the advisability of enacting remedial legislation. The outcome of 
its deliberation was the act of April 9, 1795. 

To appreciate the comprehensiveness of the plan, it will be neces- 
sary to examine the entire statute. We shall find that, within its 
limitations, it contains some of the essential elements of a modem 
state system. The law follows : 

Be it enacted by the People of the State of New York, represented in. 
Senate and Assembly That out of the annual revenue arising to this State 
from its stock and other funds, excepting so much thereof as shall be 
necessary for the support of government, the sum of twenty thousand 
pounds, shall be annually appropriated for the term of five years for the 
purpose of encouraging and maintaining schools in the several cities and 
towns in this State, in which the children of the inhabitants residing in 
this State shall be instructed in the English language or be taught English 
grammar, arithmetic, mathematics and such other branches of knowledge 
as are most useful and necessary to complete a good English education; 
which sum shall be distributed among the several counties in the manner 
following until a new apportionment of the representation of the legislature 
of this State shall be made, that is to say, 

The city and county of New York shall be entitled to receive the sum 
of one thousand eight hundred and eighty eight pounds. 

The county of Kings the sum of one hundred and seventy four pounds. 

The county of Queens the sum of seven hundred and forty four pounds. 

The county of Suffolk the sum of eight hundred and forty pounds. 

The county of Richmond the sum of one hundred and seventy four pounds. 

2 C. Z. Lincoln, editor, Messages from the Governors, 1683-1906 (11 vols. 
Albany, 1909), 2:350. 



The county of West-Chester the sum of one thousand one hundred and 
ninety two pounds. 

The county of Dutchess the sum of two thousand two hundred pounds. 

The county of Ulster the sum of one thousand four hundred and forty 
pounds. 

The county of Orange the sum of nine hundred and forty four pounds. 

The county of Columbia the sum of one thousand three hundred and 
ninety pounds. 

The county of Rensselaer the sum of one thousand one hundred and 
ninety two pounds. 

The county of Washington the sum of one thousand one hundred and 
fifty two pounds. 

The county of Clinton the sum of two hundred pounds. 

The county of Albany the sum of one thousand five hundred and ninety 
pounds. 

The county of Saratoga the sum of one thousand and ninety two pounds. 

The county of Herkemer the sum of nine hundred and thirty pounds. 

The county of Montgomery the sum of eleven hundred and ninety two 
pounds. 

The county of Otsego the sum of eight hundred and forty four pounds. 

The county of Onondaga the sum of one hundred and seventy four pounds. 

The county of Tioga the sum of three hundred and forty eight pounds and 

The county of Ontario the sum of three hundred pounds and the treasurer 
of this State is hereby required to pay the said several sums of money 
to the treasurers of the respective counties or to their respective orders on 
the third Tuesday of March in every year or as soon thereafter as the 
said monies shall come into his hands provided nevertheless that the first 
of the said annual payments shall be made on the third Tuesday of March 
in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety six. And if the annual 
revenue of the State after deducting what may be necessary for the support 
of government shall not be sufficient for the payment of the whole of 
the said sum of money in any one year, then the treasurer of the State shall 
pay the same out of any monies not otherwise appropriated which may be 
or may come into the treasury, and if the whole of the said monies not 
otherwise appropriated shall not be sufficient for that purpose then every 
such payment shall be made to each county respectively in the same pro- 
portion as the whole of the said monej^ is hereby directed to be paid before 
the next apportionment of the representation in the legislature and after 
such next apportionment shall be made every payment to the several counties 
shall be in proportion to the number of electors for members of assembly 
in each county. And the treasurers of the respective counties are hereby 
authorised to retain in their hands the sum of three pence in the pound 
for every pound of the monies which may come into their hands by virtue 
of this act as a compensation for their services in receiving and paying 
the same. 

And whereas It will be expensive and inconvenient to enumerate the 
inhabitants of the several towns in every year. Therefore 

Be it further enacted That it shall be the duty of the supervisors in each 
and every of the counties of this State, at their meeting on the last Tuesday 



of May or within ten days thereafter in every year to apportion the said 
respective sums among the several towns in their respective counties after 
having deducted the fees of the treasurers of their respective counties for 
receiving and paying the same, according to the number of taxable inhab- 
itants which shall appear to be in the several towns in each county, by the 
tax lists, directed to be annually returned to them by the act entitled 
"An act for defrajnng the public and necessary charge in the respective 
counties of this State " and if at their said time of meeting no such tax list 
shall be returned to them, by the assessors of any one or more of the 
towns in any county then it shall be lawful for the supervisors to estimate 
the number of taxable inhabitants in any such town or towns according to 
the best information that they shall be able to obtain; and when such 
apportionment shall be completed the supervisors shall certify to each town 
the sum of money allotted to that town by virtue of this act; and a copy 
of such certificate, subscribed and sealed by them, shall be delivered to each 
supervisor present, who shall file the same in the office of the clerk of the 
town, for which he shall be supervisor, and when any one or more of the 
supervisors are absent, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the supervisors 
to transmit such certificates to the clerks of the several towns whose super- 
visors were not present at such annual meeting, and such clerks shall file 
the same in their respective offices. 

And be it further enacted That the mayor, aldermen, and commonalty of 
the city of New York in common council convened shall yearly and every 
year during the continuance of this act cause to be raised by a tax in the 
said city and county a sum equal to one half the sum so appropriated for 
encouraging and maintaining schools in the city and county of New York 
by virtue of this act in the same year to be added to and applied in the 
same manner with the money so appropriated as aforesaid, which said sums 
of money so to be raised shall be assessed levied collected and paid according 
to the directions of the act entitled " An act for the more effectual collection 
of taxes in the city and county of New York." 

And be it further enacted That the supervisors of each of the several other 
counties of this State shall yearly and every year during the continuance 
of this act cause to be raised by a tax in each town in the same county a 
sum equal to one half of the sum to be allotted to the same town in the 
same year out of the money so appropriated to the county by the State 
in the same year by virtue of this act to be added to and applied in the 
same manner with the money so to be allowed to the same town in the same 
year by virtue of this act which said sums of money shall be raised levied 
collected and paid to the treasurer of the same county together with and 
in the same manner as the necessary and contingent charges of the said 
county are to be raised collected and paid by virtue of the act entitled " An 
Act for defraying the public and necessary charge in the respective counties 
of this State." 

And be it further enacted That it shall and may be lawful for the mayor 
aldermen and commonalty of the city of New York in common council 
convened from time to time during the continuance of this act to cause as 
well the money so appropriated for encouraging and maintaining schools 
in the city and county of New York as the money to be raised in the said 



city and county for the same purpose by virtue of this act to be applied 
as well for the encouragement and maintenance of the several chanty 
schools as of all other schools in which children shall be instructed in the 
English language or taught English grammar, arithmetic mathematics and 
such other branches of knowledge as are most useful and necessary to 
complete a good English education whether the children taught m such 
charity school shall be the children of white parents or descended from 
Africans and Indians in such manner as the common council shall think 
proper and in conformity with the intent of this act and shall on or 
before the first day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand 
seven hundred and ninety six and on or before the first day of November 
in every year thereafter during the continuance of this act cause an account 
of the application and distribution of the said monies to be filed in the office 
of the secretary of this State who shall deliver the same to the legislature 
at their then next session. 

And be it further enacted That on the distribution of the monies assigned to 
or to be raised within the city and county of New York amongst the different 
schools in the said city that if one or more of the said schools should refuse 
to receive their respective proportions of the money so assigned or raised 
as aforesaid then and in that case the same shall be appropriated to the 
charity schools in the said city at the discretion of the said common council. 
And be it further enacted That the supervisors of the county of Albany 
shall yearly and every year during the continuance of this act cause to be 
raised by a tax in the city of Albany a sum equal to the half of the sum 
to be appropriated for encouraging and maintaining schools in the said 
city by virtue of this act in the same year to be added to and applied in the 
Tame manner with the monies so appropriated as aforesaid which said sum 
of money so to be raised shall be assessed levied collected and paid to 
the treasurer of the same county together with and in the same manner as 
the necessary and contingent charges of the same county are to be raised 
collected and paid by virtue of the act entitled " An act for defraying the 
public and necessary charge in the respective counties of this State." 

And be it further enacted That it shall and may be lawful for the mayor 
aldermen and commonalty of the city of Albany in common council con- 
vened from time to time during the continuance of this act to cause as 
well the money so appropriated for encouraging and mamtainmg schools m 
the city of Albany as the money to be raised in the said city for the same 
purpose by' virtue of this act to be applied for the encouragement and main- 
tenance of the schools in which children shall be instructed in the English 
language or taught English grammar arithmetic mathematicks and such other 
branches of knowledge as are most useful and necessary to complete a 
good English education in such manner as the common council shall think 
proper and most agreeable to the intent of this act on or before the first 
day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and 
ninety six, and on or before the first day of November in every year there- 
after during the continuance of this act cause an account of the application 
of the said monies to be filed in the office of the secretary of this State who 
shall deliver the same to the legislature at their then next session and the 
treasurer of the said county of Albany is hereby directed to pay as well 



8 

the money so to be allotted to as to be raised in the said city of Albany for 
encouraging and maintaining schools in the said city of Albany to the order 
of the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of Albany to be by them 
appropriated as aforesaid. 

Atid be it further enacted That it shall be lawful for the freeholders and 
inhabitants in the several towns in the State who may be qualified by law 
to vote at town meetings to elect at their respective annual town meetings 
not less than three nor more than seven persons who shall during the 
continuance of this act be commissioners of schools and have the superin- 
tendence thereof and shall determine concerning the distribution of the 
monies allotted to or raised in the same town for the purpose of encouraging 
and maintaining schools by virtue of this act in the manner hereafter directed 
provided that for the present year the supervisor and town clerk and assessors 
shall be commissioners. 

And be it further enacted 1 hat the city of Hudson in the county of 
Columbia shall be considered as a town for all the purposes contemplated in 
this act: And the freemen of the said city being inhabitants thereof shall 
annually elect commissioners of schools in like manner as last above pre- 
scribed, and at such time in every year as they are by law directed to elect 
aldermen assistants and other officers in and for the said city and the said 
commissioners when so elected and qualified as above prescribed shall con- 
tinue in office for the like time, perform the like duties, exercise the like powers 
and proceed in doing business in like manner as the commissioners of schools 
in the several towns in the State; and every certificate or other matter in 
writing which is hereby directed to be filed in the office of the clerk of any 
town, shall in and for the said city be filed in the office of the clerk of the 
city and that the city of Albany in the county of Albany shall be considered 
as a town in the distribution to be made by the supervisors of the same 
county of the money appropriated to the same county by this act. 

And be it further enacted That for the purpose of deriving a benefit from 
the monies hereby appropriated it shall be lawful for the inhabitants residing 
in the diflferent parts of any town to associate together for the purpose of 
procuring good and sufficient schoolmasters and for erecting or maintaining 
schools, in such and so many parts of the town where they may reside as 
shall be found most convenient and in which shall be taught such branches 
of learning as are intended to receive encouragement from the monies hereby 
appropriated. And all such persons as may associate together for the pur- 
poses above mentioned, shall appoint two or more persons to act in their 
behalf as trustees of every such school. Provided nevertheless that no person 
shall be appointed a trustee of any such school who ijiay be in any other 
manner authorized or empowered to carry this act into effect and the said 
trustees shall whenever they may judge it necessary confer with the commis- 
sioners of schools for the town or ward where they may reside concerning 
the qualifications of the master or masters that they may have employed, or 
may intend to employ, in their school, and concerning every other matter 
which may relate to the welfare of their school or to the propriety of erecting 
or maintaining the same, to the intent that they may obtain the determination 
of the said commissioners whether the said school will be entitled to a part 
of the monies allotted to or raised in that town by virtue of this act and 



whether the abilities and moral character of the master or masters employed 
or intended to be employed therein are such as will meet with their approbation. 
And the said trustees of the said several schools shall on the third Tuesday 
in March of every year or within four days thereafter make a return certified 
under their respective hands to the commissioners of schools for the town 
where their respective schools may have been kept containing the name or 
names of the master or masters who in the year then next preceding may 
have instructed in the school for which they were appointed trustees and 
the time or times when they severally began and left off instructing in the 
said school and the number of days they may have severally instructed therein, 
and the terms upon which they have severally agreed to instruct in the same 
and the names of the scholars who in that year have been instructed therein 
and the number of days which they have severally attended the school and 
the time or times within which the school has been kept in that year pro- 
vided nevertheless That the name of any child who shall be under the age 
of four years shall not be inserted in any such returns and if after the 
receipt of the said returns it shall appear to the said commissioners that 
there is no material error fraud or deception in them they shall collect into 
one sum the whole number of days for which each and every scholar that 
may have attended any one of the said schools shall have been instructed 
therein, and shall apportion the monies allotted to and raised in that town 
for the purpose aforesaid according to the whole number of days for which 
instruction shall appear to have been given in each of the said schools in 
such manner that the school in which the greater number of days of instruc- 
tion shall appear to have been given shall have a proportionably larger sum 
and if it shall at any time appear to the said commissioners that the abilities 
or moral character of the master or masters of any school are not such that 
they ought to be entrusted with the education of youth or that any of the 
branches of learning taught in any school are not such as are intended to 
receive encouragement from the monies appropriated by this act the said 
commissioners shall notify in writing the said trustees of such school thereof 
and to the time of such notification and no longer shall any allowance be 
made to such school unless the same thereafter be conducted to the appro- 
bation of the said commissioners and where more masters than one shall 
have been employed in any school the said commissioners shall apportion the 
monies allotted to that school among the said several masters according to 
the length of time they may have severally kept the schools or according to 
such agreement as shall have been made with them by the trustees of said 
school or by any other person or persons who may have procured them. 

And be it further enacted That nothing herein contained shall be con- 
strued to prevent the inhabitants residing near the limits or borders of any 
town from associating with the inhabitants residing in any adjoining town 
for the purposes above mentioned and in every such case the trustees of the 
school shall be residents of the town where the school may be kept and the 
commissioners of that town shall make the like distribution to such school 
as is herein before prescribed with respect to the other schools in such town. 

And be it further enacted That the said commissioners in every town shall 
provide a book in which they shall make an entry of every school under 
their superintendence the names of the trustees and the masters names the 



lO 

time of application made to them by the trustees and the time of the appro- 
bation of the said commissioners as well of schools already established as of 
such as may be established during the continuance of this act and shall on 
the last Tuesday in May in every year from the return of the trustees with 
such vouchers as may be necessary determine the sums due to the trustees of 
the respective schools and shall give to the trustees of each school an order 
on the treasurer of the county for the sum which they shall so determine 
to be due and the treasurer of the county is hereby required to pay the same. 

And be it further enacted That the commissioners in the several towns 
within this State shall on or before the first day of July in the year one 
thousand seven hundred and ninety six and in every year thereafter during 
the continuance of this act deliver to the treasurer of their respective counties 
a schedule containing the number of schools the masters names the number 
of scholars taught and the number of days of instruction in the schools of 
which they were the commissioners and the treasurers of the several counties 
shall on or before the first day of November in every year transmit the same 
to the secretaries office and the secretary shall lay the same before the legisla- 
ture at their next meeting. 

And whereas special provision hath already been made for the encourage- 
ment of learning in the several colleges and academies in the State, Therefore 

Be it further enacted That nothing in this act contained shall be so con- 
strued as to extend to any college or academy which now is or hereafter shall 
be incorporated under the authority of the regents of the university or by 
virtue of any law of the State. 

And be it further enacted That this act shall be in force and take effect, 
from and after the first Tuesdaj^ of April one thousand seven hundred and 
ninety-five.* 

An amendment was passed April 6, 1796. It reads: 

" Whereas it is provided that the twelfth section of the act entitled An act 
for the encouragement of schools that the inhabitants of two adjoining towns 
may associate for the purpose of erecting schools in conformity to the said 
act and that commissioners of the town in which the school is kept shall 
make the like distribution to such school as to schools wholly composed of 
children belonging to the town in which the school is kept which in many 
instances is likely to operate unequally between the inhabitants of said towns. 
For remedy whereof 

Be it enacted by the People of the State of New York represented in 
Senate and Assembly That the commissioners of the adjoining towns in 
which such association shall take place shall respectively furnish monies to 
such school in the same manner as is directed with regard to other schools in 
proportion to the number of scholars from each town respectively and the 
trustees of the school in the town where such school is so kept shall direct 
a separate account of the days of instruction that shall be so given to scholars 
that belong to such adjoining town and deliver the same to the commissioners 
of schools of such adjoining town and the said commissioners shall pay the 
proportion of said money to said trustees accordingly. 

*Laws of the State of New York, 178^1796 (Albany, 1887), 3:626-631. 



II 

And be it further enacted That the children of the inhabitants of any 
town where there is an academy incorporated or to be incorporated, and 
shall be taught in such academy only reading writing and common arithmetic 
shall be considered as scholars of common schools are considered by the act 
entitled 'An act for the encouragement of schools ' and shall have the like 
benefit as other scholars belonging to the common schools in the same town 
as to the gratuity of this State and the tax to be raised in the same town." 
(Laws of the State of New York, 1789-1796, 3:702.) 

The significant features of the law may be summarized as fol- 
lows: 

1 " The sum of twenty thousand pounds, shall be annually 
appropriated for the term of five years for the purpose of encour- 
aging and maintaining schools in the several cities and towns in this 
State, in which the children . . . shall be instructed in the 
English language or be taught English grammar, arithmetic, mathe- 
mathics and such other branches of knowledge as are most useful 
and necessary to complete a good English education." 

2 At first this sum was apportioned to the several counties ac- 
cording to their representation in the legislature; afterwards 
" every payment to the several counties shall be in proportion to 
the number of electors for members of assembly in each county." 

3 " It shall be the duty of me supervisors in each and every of 
the counties of this State, at ipieir meeting on the last Tuesday of 
May or within ten days thereafter in every year to apportion the 
said respective sums among the several towns in their respective 
coimties . . . according to the number of taxable inhabitants 
which shall appear to be in the several towns in each county." 

4 " The supervisors of each of the several other (other than New 
York) counties of this State shall yearly . . . cause to be 
raised by a tax in each town ... a sum equal to one-half 
of the sum to be allotted to the same town in the same year out of 
the money so appropriated to the county by the State." 

5 The inhabitants of the various towns were authorized to elect 
" at their respective annual town meetings not less than three nor 
more than seven " commissioners of schools, " who shall . . . 
have the superintendence thereof, and shall determine concerning 
the distribution of the monies." 

6 " It shall be lawful for the inhabitants residing in the different 
parts of any town to associate together for the purpose of procuring 
good and sufficient schoolmasters, and for erecting or maintaining 
schools." 



12 

7 The inhabitants shall " appoint two or more persons to act in 
their behalf as trustees of every such school." 

8 " The said trustees shall whenever they may judge it neces- 
sary confer with the commissioners of schools . . . concern- 
ing the qualifications of the master or masters that they may have 
employed, or may intend to emplo)', in their school, and concerning 
every other matter which may relate to the welfare of their school 
. . . to the intent that they may obtain the determination of 
the said commissioners whether the said school will be entitled to 
a part of the monies allotted to or raised in that town by virtue of 
this act." 

9 The trustees were required annually to transmit to the com- 
missioners a " return " or report " containing the name or names 
of the master or masters who in the year then next preceding may 
have instructed in the school for which they were appointed trus- 
tees and the time or times when they severally began and left off 
instructing . . . therein, and the terms upon which they have 
severally agreed to instruct in the same and the names of the 
scholars who in that year have been instructed therein and the 
number of days which they have severally attended the school." 

10 The commissioners " shall apportion the monies . . . 
according to the whole number of days for which instruction shall 
appear to have been given in each of the said schools," and " shall 
give to the trustees of each school an order on the treasurer of 
the county for the sum which they shall so determine to be due and 
the treasurer of the county is hereby required to pay the same." 

1 1 " The commissioners . . . shall provide a book in which 
they shall make an entry of every school under their superin- 
tendence the names of the trustees and the masters names the 
time of application made to them by the trustees and the time of 
the approbation of the said commissioners." 

12 " The commissioners . . shall . . . deliver to the 
treasurer of their respective counties a schedule containing the 
number of schools the masters names the number of scholars 
taught and the number of days of instruction in the schools . . . 
and the treasurers . . . shall . . transmit the same to 
the secretaries office and the secretary shall lay the same before 
the legislature at their next meeting." 

Let us turn now to a consideration of the practice established by 
this law. In its formal, concise manner, the statute draws up the 
plan, and indicates the procedure to be followed. A description 



13 

of the actual operation of the system is to be found only in the 
records of the towns. Fortunately for our purpose the Records of 
the Town of Westchester contain a fairly complete account of the 
practice.^ 

The earliest entry of importance in the Records of the Town 
of Westchester, following the passage of the statute, is a " Cer- 
tificate," dated June 17, 1795, from the county supervisors. This 
is an official statement that " the apportionment of the money by 
us allotted to the Said Town by virtue of the Act aforesaid is 
Sixty Two pounds four Shillings."^ To this sum must be added 



^Records of the Town of Westchester, 1724-1839; Ibid, 1788-1827. 
These records have not been edited; they are contained in manuscript 
folio volumes, in the Municipal Building, New York City. 

Every entry relating to the law of April 9, 1795 is reproduced, without 
abridgment, in this study. 
* Records of the Town of Westchester, 1724-1839, 106. 
" Certificate for £62.4.0 

for the use of the Schools in 
the Town of Westchester. 

We the Supervisors of the County of Westchester pursuant to an act of 
the Legislature of the State of New York, entitled ' An Act for the encour- 
agement of Schools' passed the ninth of April, 1795 do Certify to the Town 
of Westchester that the apportionment by us allotted to the said Town by 
virtue of the Act aforesaid in Sixty Two pounds four Shillings. 

Witness our hands and Seals the Seventeenth day of June one thousand 
Seven hundred and Ninety five. 

William Adams Benjm Morgan 

James Willis Stephen Carpenter 

Richard Hatfield George Comb 

Philip Pell Pierre Van Courtland Junr 

Thomas Bowne Daniel Delavan 

William Fansher Abel Smith 

Abraham Brown Elias Newman 

Abijah Gilbert William Vail 

John Robert Israel Underbill " 

The Records contain but one other " Certificate " of this type, dated 
October 4, 1799: 

"A Certificate of money 

granted for the use of schools 
1799 

We the Subscribing a majority of the Supervisors of the County of West- 
chester do Certify that the money apportioned of the Town of Westchester 
for the Encouragement of schools is one hundred Dollars and Twelve 
Cents given under our hands and seals at Bedford October 4th day 1799, 



14 

£31 -25., "a sum equal to one half of the sum to be allotted to the 
same town," which the county supervisors " shall . . . cause 
to be raised by a tax." ^ The total, ^93.65. seems to have been a 
rather small amount with which to establish and maintain schools 
in a town the size of Westchester. 

The next document to be considered, and one of the most inter- 
esting, is a " Book " containing the official accounts of the estab- 
lishment of schools. This record bears the following title : 
A Book for the entrey of 
Schools 
In the Town of Westchester, 
Agreeable to an Act of the Legislature 
of the State of New York entiteled an Act 
for the encouragement of Schools 
passed the 9th of April 
1795 

The contents follow in the order of the original manuscript.® 
(i) "A Certificate from the School House near Delanceys 
Bridge, In the words following viz, 

and the money quoted is fifty three Dollars and thirty three Cents given 
under our hands as above. 

The Collectors Fees to be taken out of this for the Treasurer. 

$100.12 
53-33 



153-45 
Collector fees 5.30 



Total sum $148.15 
George Comb 
Abraham Brown 
William Fansher 
James McDonald 
John Falconer Supervisors 

Stephen Liens 
Benjamin Morgan 
Abel Smith 
Elijah Ward 
Israel Underbill 
I. D. De Lancey" 

The law required that the " supervisors shall certify to each town the 
sum of money allotted to that town by virtue of this act." 

' See the law. 

' Original paging is indicated by numbers in brackets. 



15 

A number of the Inhabitants in the neighbourhood of Delanceys 
Bridge in the town of Westchester having Associated themselves 
for the purpose of estabhshing a School Met at the House of Levi 
Hunts on the 14th day of December 1795, in pursuance of an Act 
of the Legislature in that case made & provided, & having chosen 
Joseph Browne chairman they proceeded to the choice of two 

Trustees for the said School When Joseph Browne & 

John Gillespie were legally chosen, 

The above is a true copy of the proceed'gs. 
Joseph Browne Chairman 

Likewise a Certificate from the Trustees of the above School, 
in the words following viz, 

John Gillespie & Joseph Browne being chosen Trustees of the 
School near Delanceys Bridge report the same to the Commis- 
sioners of Schools for the Town of Westchester that Robert 
Bayard is School master thereof, who is engaged untill the first 
day of April next to educate in reading writing & Arithmetic all 

Such Schollars as may be sent to him for which he is 

to receive a compensation at the rate of Sixty pounds pr Annum. 

Westchester December 15, 1795 
John Gillespie 
Joseph Browne 

(2) The Inhabitants in the upper part of the Town of Westchester 
having Associated themselves together at the School House near 
the Widow Bartows On the i6th day of January 1796 for the 
purpose of establishing a School & for choosing Two Trustees to 
Superintend their Said School, agreeable to an Act of the Legis- 
lature of the State of New York in that case Made & provided. 
When Israel Honeywill & William Bartow were Accordingly 
chosen. 

John Reid, Theophilus Bartow 
his 
Thos Bartow Peter X Valentine 
Mark 

We the Subscribers being chosen Trustees for the School near 
the Widow Bartows in the upper part of the town of Westchester 
do report the Same to the Commissioners of Schools for the Said 
Town & likewise inf.orm them that John Bartow Son of John 
Bartow Jun. is engaged as School master thereof, for the Term of 



i6 

One Quarter at the rate of forty eight pounds pr Annum & is to 

educate in reading writing & Arithmetic all Such Scollars as may 

be Sent to him. 

January 16.17. 1796 
Israel Honeywill 
William Bartow 

The foregoing Certificates 

Approved Januar>' 23d 1796. 

By Thomas Bartow Elijah Williams 
Benjamin Williams, Israel Underhill 

(3) The Trustees of the School near the Widow Bartows inform 
the Commissioners of Schools of their having employed James 
Lions as teacher in their School And that he began to teach on 
the first of April and Agrees to Teach in the Said School one 
Year for ijo all Such Scholars as may be sent to him in Reading 
Writing and Arithmetic 

Approved April 5th 1796 
and ordered to be 
entered in the 
School Book 

By Oliver DeLancey 

Jonathan Randall 

Elijah Williams 

At a Meeting of the Commissioners of Schools held at the House 
of John Valentines on the 19th Day of September 1796. Present 

Oliver DeLancey Augustus Bartow 
Jonathan Randall & Elijah Williams 

At which time the Trustees of the School near DeLanceys Bridge 
inform that their School was destitute of a teacher and that they 
had employed Master Burchell to instruct in the School for one 
Year at the rate of One hundred pound per annum. 

Joseph Browne 

trustees 

John Gillespie 
Approved and ordered to be entered in the School book. 

(4) The following is A Copy of A Certificate from the Inhabitants 
of Throgs Neck in the words following viz, 

We the Subscribers residing on Throgs Neck Town and County 
of Westchester having associated together for the purpose of 



17 

Establishing a School on the said Neck of Throgs in pursuance 
of an Act for the Encouragement of Schools passed the 9th of 
April 1795 Do hereby certify that having assembled for this pur- 
pose on the 23 Day of December last At the House of John Hobart 
Esq We did then and there appoint Jonathan Fowler and Philip T 
Livingston to Act in our behalf as Trustees of Such School to be 
Established according to and under the Act above mentioned As 
Witness our hands this 24th Day of December one Thousand Seven 
Hundred and Ninety Six. 

Jonathan Fowler Philip T Livingston 
N. Bayard John Sloss Hobart 

The Trustees within mentioned hereby inform the Commis- 
sioners of Schools for the Town of Westchester That they have 
agreed on the Same Terms as other Schools are kept in the Town 
with Thomas Greennell to be Master of a School on Throgs Neck 
aforesaid and have leased a House on the Said Neck from Jonathan 
Randall for this purpose, their present agreement with the Master 
to continue to the 3d Tuesday in March next And there- 
fore request the approbation of the Commissioners for the Estab- 
lishment of such School according to the Regulations of the School 
act within mentioned. 
Approved 20 February 1797 
by Jonathan Randall 
Augustus Bartow Commissioners 
Elijah Williams of Schools 

(5) The following is A Copy of a Certificate of the appointment 
of Trustees to the School near Cornelius Leggetts on the West 
Farms in the words following viz, 

At a meeting of the proprietors of the School in the West Farms 
held December 14th 1796 for the purpose of chooseing Trustees 

for said School Cornelius Leggett in the Chair William 

Leggett and Craig Kelly were unanimously chosen Trustees. 

Cornelius Legget Chairm. 

Likewise a certifycate from the Trustees of the said School in 
the words following viz, 

We the Subscribers chosen Trustees for the School in the west 
Farms near Cornelius Leggetts in the Town of Westchester Do 
report the same to the Commissioners of Schools for the said 
Town of Westchester and Ukewise inform them that Arthur 
Burchell is engaged as School Master thereof for the term of one 



i8 

Quarter at the rate of One Hundred and four pounds per Annum 
and is to Educate all in Reading Writing & Arithmetic all such 
Scholars as may be sent to him. 
Westchester April 22th 1797 William Legget 

Craig Kelly Trustees 

At a meeting of the Commissioners of Schools held at the House 
of Levi Hunts April 22th 1797 

Present 
Oliver De Lancey Augustus Bartow 
Samuel Berrian & Elijah Williams 

At which time the aforegoing Certifycates were approved and 
ordered to be entered in the School Book." * 

This little " entrey " book presents a brief description of the 
first steps to be taken, in any district, for the establishment of a 
school. We see here the inhabitants " associating together for the 
purpose of establishing a school," electing " two Trustees to Super- 
intend their Said School," and engaging a schoolmaster. This 
business transacted, the trustees " report the Same to the Commis- 
sioners of Schools," in the form of a " Certificate." If the action 
of the inhabitants and trustees meet the approval of the commis- 
sioners, the certificate is " approved and ordered to be entered in 
the School book." 

The town-meeting minutes make no reference to the election of 
commissioners of schools until "An Annual Town Meeting held 
in the Town of Westchester on the ist Tuesday of April being 
the 5th Day of April, 1796," when Augustus Bartow, Elijah 
Williams, Samuel Berrian, Oliver DeLancey, and Jonathan Randall 
were chosen.^" These men were reelected on April 4, 1797. It 
will be recalled in this connection tliat the statute provided " that 
for the present year (1795) the supervisor and town clerk and 
assessor shall be commissioners." 

It is not until we examine the " returns," upon which the com- 
missioners " shall apportion the monies," that we see the schools in 
operation. For this purpose the complete set of reports to the 
" Commissioners of Schools for the Township of Westchester " 
will be reproduced. 

"A Return from 
Gilmores School 



^ Separate manuscript, not part of the bound Records of the Town of 
Westchester. 
"Records of the Town of Westchester, 178&-1827, 16. 



19 

To the Commissioners of Schools for the Township of West- 
chester and State of New York. 

A Return of the Scholars Taught and Instructed on the Man- 
ner of Fordham Township and County of Westchester and State 
of New York, whereof John Ryer and Nicholas Berrian Junr are 
Trustees, and Robert Gilmore Tutor from the 19th Day of March 
1796 untill the 19th- Day of March 1797. The said Trustees having 
agreed with the Said Tutor that he should Teach the Scholars 
sent to his School at the Rate of Ten shillings per Quarter and 
he the Said master to be Entitled to the proportion of the Moneys 
apportioned to that School raised by Virtue of the Act of the Leg- 
islature of New York for the Encouragement of Schools for the 
above said Term, 



NUMBER 
SCHOLARS NAMES OF DAYS 

James Berrien 140 

John Berrien 288 

Sarah Berrien 216 

Elizabeth Berrien 216 

Benjamin Berrien 280 

Harriet McEvoy 72 

Mary McEvoy ^2 

Jackson Poole 144 

Solomon Poole 186 

Richard Devoe 144 

Catherine Archer 168 

Wiliam Archer 240 

Rachel Archer z^ 

Letty Archer 108 

Anne Hayse ^2 

Peter Vallentine T2 

Michael D. Vermilya 144 

Issac Vermilya 46 

James Vermilya 144 

John Vermilya 30 

Edward Vermilya 14 

William Ryer 86 

Phebe Ryer 144 



NUMBER 
SCHOLARS NAMES OF DAYS 

James Ryer 7,2 

Elizabeth Bussing 48 

John Bussing 96 

Issac Crusher 140 

Mary Curson 226 

John Crusor 96 

Ann Taylor 72 

James Taylor 96 

James Cromwell 144 

Oliver Cromwell • • 144 

Charles Warner 144 

John Garrison 'jz 

Peter Garrison ^2 

Elizabeth Garrison, Jr 72 

Issac Garrison 91 

Elizabeth Garrison, D 93 

Elizabeth Ward 288 

Michael Scudder loi 

Sarah Scudder 144 

Richard Gilmore 216 

Elizabeth Bartow 20 

Stephen Wheaton 109 

Nicholas Berrinam 76 



Total number of days .... 5694* 



John Ryer 
Nicholas Berrien 



Trustees. 



^^ Records of the Town of Westchester, 1724-1839, 106. 
* Additions arc frequently inaccurate. 



20 

A Return of the Scholars Taught in the School on the Manor of 
Fordham in the Township of Westchester and State of New York 
and the Number of Days they have been taught whereof John 
Ryer and Nicholas Berrian Junr. are Trustees and Robert Gil- 
more Teacher from the 19th day of March 1797 to the 19th day 
of March 1798 the agreement between the said Trustees and the 
Said Teacher is that the Said Teacher shall Teach and Instruct 
such Children Sent to Said School at the Rate of los per Quarter 
for each Scholar and He the Said Teacher to be entitled to the 
proportion of money apportioned to the Said School according to 
an Act of the Legislature of the State for the Encouragement of 
Schools. 



SCHOLARS NAMES DAYS 

James Taylor 140 

William Kitchen 140 

John Bussing 105 

James Ryer 70 

Israel Vermillya 105 

Samuel Berrian 70 

James Berrian 210 

Sarah Berrian 140 

Benjamin Berrian 210 

Elizabeth Berrian 280 

Phebe Ryer 140 

William Ryer 70 

Peter Vallentine 175 

Catherine Archer 140 

William Archer 210 

Rachel Archer 140 

Elizabeth Woolf 140 

Annie Woolf 140 

Stephen Wheaton 70 

Jackson Poole 210 

Solomon Poole 245 

Richard Devoe 105 

Harriet McEvoy 70 

To be carr'd outside 3535 



SCHOLARS NAMES DAYS 

Michael Scudder 70 

Sarah Scudder 140 

Hezekiah Ward 280 

Letty Archer 210 

Elizabeth Garrison 210 

Letty Garrison 210 

Issac Garrison 70 

Betsey Garrison 70 

Susanna Garrison 70 

Cornelius Garrison 140 

James Garrison 210 

James Crumwel! 210 

Oliver Crumwell 175 

David Palmer 70 

Charles Valentine 70 

John Cruson 210 

Isaac Cruson 210 

Mary Cruson 70 

Richard Gilmore 280 



Carr'd from opst Side. 



2905 
• 3535 

6440 



Robert Gilmore Teacher 
John Ryer Trustees 

Nicholas Berrian 



We the subscribers Trustees of Robert Gilmore's School on the 
Manner of Fordham Do to the best of our Knowledge hereby 



21 

Certify that the Said Robert Gilmore has instructed in the Said 
School agreeable to the terms mentioned in the within Return. 

Nicholas Berrian.^'^ 

A Return from 
Arthur Burchells School 



CHILDRENS NAMES MONTH 

Linoal Browne September 

George Senate 

David Palmer 

John De Laney • . . . 

John De Lancey 

Robert Gilaspie • • . . . 

John Gilaspie 

Anthony Galaspie • ■ 

Susanna Galaspie 

Thomas Gilaspie 

Paul Reily 

Chas Vallentine ^ 

David Kelly October 

Isabella Beard " 

Catherine Beard " 

John Reilly " 

Joshua Monroe December 

Peter Senate Jany 

John Embrce " 

Pell Hunt " 

Gion Hunt " 

Hannah Hunt " 

Joseph Baxter . . .- " 

David Leggett " 

Cornelius Leggett " 

William Croser " 

William Smith " 

Edwin Britton March 

Henry Ryer Nov 



VTE 


YEAR ATTENDED ADSE NT 


22 


1796 


143 10 


" 


" 


74 79 


26 


" 


129 21 


22 


" 


127 26 



26 
17 



31 

5 
2 



16 

23 

9 



13 
21 



1797 



1796 



Days of attendance and absence 

Arthur Burchell Directed 127 



74 


79 


129 


21 


127 


26 


127 


26 


"5 


38 


102 


51 


136 


17 


106 


47 


68 


85 


108 


45 


105 


45 


"5 


17 


4 


128 


3 


129 


4 


116 


7 


83 


64 


2 


62 


4 


59 


I 


59 


I 


41 


13 


30 


18 


48 


12 


58 


2 


58 


2 


52 


8 


4 


2 


108 


16 


2158 


1046 



We the Commissioners 
do approve of those 
Number of days for two 
Masters. 



2031 Aug Bartow 

1258 S. Berrian 

O. De Lancey 

3282 



We the Subscribing Trustees for the School near De Lanceys 
Bridge do Certify that the within return of the number of days 

"Records of the Town of Westchester, 1724-1839, 117. 



22 

that the Children attended the School kept by Arthur Burchell is 
true to the best of our Knowledge and that all the Children are 
more than four Years of age and that the terms on which the Said 
Arthur Burchell kept the said School are as follows — He is to 
Educate in reading, writing, and arithmetic all such Scholars as 
may be Sent to him for one hundred pounds per annum. This 
Said Arthur Burchell to maintain the Said School in fire at his 
owne Expence. We do also Certify that Sum for the annexed 
signed by Robert Bayard. 

Given under our hands this 25th Day of March 1797. 

Joseph Brown Trustees 
John Gilaspie 

The Total Number of Days from April the 24th 1797 to March 
the 1 2th 1798 as Taught by Arthur Burchell were 3293 days. 
Total days of attendance of children 3293. 
We the Subscribers trustees of the School taught by Arthur 
Burchell do to the best of our Knowledge hereby Certify that the 
Said Arthur Burchell has Instructed in the Said School agree- 
able to the above Return, 

Signed 

Wm Leggett Trustees 
Craig Kelly " 
Dated March the 12th 1798. 

A Return from 
James Quimblys School 

I James Quimbly have taught throught the Course of this last 
Season from the 21st of the 3d Mo 1797 to the 23d of the 3d Mo 
1798. Within this time I have Taught 180 Days at i20 per 
Quarter. The Names of the Children and tlie Number of Days 
they have attended School as follows, 

CHU-DRENS NAMES DAYS CHILDRENS NAMES DAYS 

William Vallentine 54 Stephen Honeywell 49 

Mateldia Hunt • • 94 Rachel Freeborn 12 

Mary Quimbly 33 Abraham Heady 138 

Benjamin White 48 Isaac Heady 48 

George White 154 William Ferris 172 

Oakley Pugsley 53 Elizabeth Wilson 162 

Aaron Cornell 25 Caroline Livingston 6 

Philip Briggs 153 Carrington Wilson 139 

Elijah Quimby 141 Sarah Wilson 38 

i» Records of the Town of Westchester, I724r-i839, 120. 



23 



CHILDRENS NAMES DAYS 

Sewell Dodge 41 

Mary Carroll 27 

Mary Billings 113 

George Paul i33 

Anne White 24 

Sarah White IZ 

Elizabeth Quimby 136 

Phebe Baxter 75 

Eleon Hady 90 

Jack Briggs 78 

Charollet Hunt 71 

Lewis Doty 141 

Esther Lewis 2"] 

Eliza Sprague 61 

James Stone 120 

James Baisley 124 

James Honeywell 125 

Elijah Baxter 51 

Warren Hyd« 106 

Sarah Buckbee 71 

Sarah Baxter 66 

Thomas Buckbee 80 

Ann Ferris 132 

Uzza Lewis 107 



CHILDRENS NAMES DAYS 

Thos Stone 53 

Augst Lawrence 49 

Olijah Moshen 30 

Thimothy Randle 31 

Chas Baxter 37 

Anne Lewis 21 

Wm Vanzant 12 

Jno Hitchcock 61 

Chet Braint 12 

G. and E. Baisley 153 

G. and M. Baxter 52 

Sarah Baxter 17 

Sophia Bartow 83 

Cr Bartow 81 

Theop Hunt 60 

John Gilaspee 513 

Robt Gillaspe 55 

William Hyde 45 

Susan Galipie 5^ 

William Hyde 47 

Isaac Randle 19 

Thomas Gillespie 5^ 

John Pugsley 52 

Total 4732 days 



We the Subscribers Trustees of James Quimblys School do to 
the best of our Knowledge hereby Certify that the Said James 
Quimbly has instructed in the School agreeable to the terms men- 
tioned in the within Return. 

Edward Briggs 

Jonathan Fowler Trustees." 

St March 1797 to the present Day 
the Minutes. 



Succinct Account from the 21 
March 30th 1798. Taken from 

NO. OF 
CHILDRENS NAMES DAYS 

Cornelius S. Bartow 10 

George Crawford 63 

William Crawford 63 

Thomas Secord 10 

Jennet Reid 207 

Thomas Reid 251 

Helena Reid 254 

Phebe Reid 256 

John B. Reid 256 



NO. OF 

CHILDRENS NAMES DAYS 

Augustus Heustice 260 

Elijah Heustice 265 

Stephen Bartow 264 

Jane Bartow 237 

Robert Bartow 245 

Issac W. Bartow 258 

Euphamy Bartow 161 

Agnes Givan 267 



"Records of the Town of Westchester, 1724-1839, "6. 



24 

NO. OF CHILDRENS NAMES DAYS 

CHILDREN'S NAMFS DAYS NO- OF 

Mary Honeywell 170 Olivia Daft 93 

Jemima Hunt 164 Mary Daft 96 

Margaret Lyons 177 Oliver Fowler 152 

Hester Vallentine 227 Richard Tweed 161 

Peter V'allentine 193 Black George (Mr. Fowlers 

Margaret Smith 254 Negro) 163 

James Smith 249 Moses Secord 162 

Sophia Bartow 91 Black Gabriel (Mr. Givans 

Cornelius Bartow 91 Negro) 168 

Margaret Givan 2T2 Jennet Smith 84 

Lana Luterman 212 

Rachel Luterman 270 Total Number of Days.. 6867 

Basil Bartow 91 

Number of Days Officiated by James Lyons 

1st Quarter 82 

2nd Do 74 

3rd Do 68 

4th Do 60 

Total Number of Days 284 Taught 

We the Subscribers Trustees of James Lyons School do to the 
best of our Knowledge Certify that the Said James Lyons has 
instructed in the Said School agreeable to the terms mentioned 
in the within return. 

Israel Honeywell 
William Bartow ^' 

"Records of the Town of Westchester, 1724-1839, 115. 

The following entry contains the terms upon which James Lyons was 
engaged for the year 179S-1799: 

" We the subscribers having been appointed Trustees of the School on 
the West Farms on the 24th day of February last have agreed with James 
Lyons to be the master thereof for one year from the first day of April 
next on the Condition following to wit. That he is to Educate all such 
Children as shall be sent to him in reading writing and arithmetic at the 
rate of Sixty Pounds per annum payable quarterly exclusive of what he 
may receive from the Commissioners of Schools. As the Said Lyons is 
Said to be a man of sufficient ability and moral character, the Trustees 
hope their agreement with him will meet the approbation of the Com- 
missioners of Schools for the Town of Westchester, West Farms March 
24th 1798. 

Joseph Browne 
Approved March 27th 1798 Richard Hunt 

by Jonathan Randall 
Augustus Bartow 
Elijah Williams " 
(Records of the Town of Westchester, I724r-i839, 124) 



25 



Return of the Names of the Scholars and the Days each 
severally have attended the School on Throgs Nect under the 
Tuition of Thomas Grenell from the 22d day of March 1797 to 
the 22d day of March 1798. 



NUMBER OF 
NAMES OF DAYS EACH 

NO. CHILDREN HAS ATTENDED 

1 Jesse Bender 198 

2 Joseph Bender 287 

3 Mary Marsh 178 

4 Elvin Palmer 104 

5 Anne Hunt 98 

6 Thomas Marsh 115 

7 Augustus Butler 264 

8 Thomas Grenell Jun 215 

9 Mathew Chapman 206 

10 John Chapman 189 

11 Anne Chapman 220 

12 James Robinson 190 

13 Ralph Robinson 74 

14 James Pazeley 74 



NUMBER OF 
NAMES OF DAYS EACH 

NO. CHILDREN HAS ATTENDED 

15 Elizabeth Baisley 168 

16 Peter Horsenprats 171 

17 William Horsenprats 139 

18 Isaac Horsenprats 45 

ig Frederick Baxter 88 

20 Charles Baxter il 

21 David Blizzard 39 

22 Richard Blizzard 21 

23 George Graham 52 

24 Augustus Lawrence 18 

25 Charles Nelson 6 

26 Charles Nelson 55 

27 Deborah Hunt 222 

Total Number of Days 3427 



We the Trustees of Thomas Grenells school do hereby Certify 
that the above is Correct and agreeable and up to the terms. 

Jonathan Fowler, Com.^® 

Succinct Account of the Childrens names the number of days of 
their Attendance, and also the number of days officiated by Robert 
Hart in the School situated near Augustus Bartows in the Town- 
ship and County of Westchester from the 2n day of April 1798 to 
the Second day of July 1798 taken from the minutes. 



NO. OF 
CHILDRENS NAMES DAYS 

Stephen Bartow 50 

Robert Bartow 63 

Euphamy Bartow 58 

Wm John 49 

Jemima Hunt 66 

Jennet Reid 51 

Helenia Reid 49 

John Bartow 5- 

Mary Bartow 62 

Jane Bartow Si 

Mary Honeywell 10 



NO. OF 

CHILDRENS NAMES DAYS 

August Hustice 59 

Edward Briggs 48 

Rachel Luterman 61 

Margaret Givins 45 

Margaret Luterman 54 

Elijah Heustice 50 

Phebe Reid i 

Isaac W. Bartow 12 

Sophia Bartow 41 

Cornelia Bartow 39 

Basil Bartow 26 



"Records of the Town of Westchester, 1724-1839, 122. 



26 

NO. OF NO. OF 

CHILDREN S NAMES DAYS CHILDRENS NAMES DAYS 

Oliver Fowler 54 William Vanzant 43 

Susannah Wright 53 

William A. Bartow 39 453 

James Smith 50 Amt Carrd 830 

Margaret Smith i 

Caroline Livingston 46 Total 1283 

Officiated 70 days 
Children attended 1283 days 

William Bartow Trustee 

Examined and accepted by us the Commissioners this 19th Day 
of March 1799. 
Signed 

Jonathan Randall 

Samuel Berrian 

Lott Hunt 

David Hustice 

Augustus Bartow 

Basil L Bartow " " 

From the " entrey " book, and the " returns," we learn that the 
salaries were determined by " agreement between the said Trustees 
and the Said Teacher." They varied in amount. John Bartow, 
master of the " school near the Widow Bartows in the upper part 
of the town of Westchester " was secured at the lorvv " rate of 
forty eight pounds pr Annum," while James Lyons, who succeeded 
him, agreed " to Teach in the Said School one Year for Ijo." In 
the following year James Lyons taught in the " school on the West 
Farms " " at the rate of Sixty Pounds per annum payable quarterly 
exclusive of what he may receive from the Commissioners of 
Schools." It is very probable that by this arrangement he enjoyed 
a larger income than £70. Arthur Burchell, of the school " near 
De Lancey's Bridge," received £100 per annum, but was obliged to 
" maintain the Said School in fire at his owne Expence." In each 
of these cases the master was obliged to teach, at a stated salary, 
" all such Scholars as may be sent to him." By another arrange- 
ment, Robert Gilmore agreed to " teach and Instruct such Children 
Sent to Said School at the Rate of los per Quarter for each Scholar 
and he the Said Teacher to be entitled to the proportion of money 
apportioned to the Said School." An agreement of this type 
offered the master an incentive to increase his enrolment, and the 
trustees may have expected him to accomplish this by improving 
the quality of instruction. 

"Records of the Town of Westchester, 1724-1839, 119. 



27 

The " returns " reveal a simple but satisfactory system of keep- 
ing the attendance records. We find here, neatly arranged in small 
compass, the " names of the master or masters," the " times when 
they severally began or left off instructing," the " number of days 
they may have severally instructed," the " terms upon vi^hich they 
have severally agreed to instruct," the " names of the scholars," 
and the " number of days which they may have severally attended 
the school." If the class records submitted by the schoolmasters 
were found to be correct, they were approved by the trustees and 
forwarded, in the form of " succinct accounts," to the commis- 
sioners. These latter oflficials were instructed by the statute to 
" apportion the monies . . . according to the whole number of 
days for which instruction shall appear to have been given in each 
of the said schools." 

Although the school term was not defined by the law, the maxi- 
mum year comprised 288 days. Evidently holidays were few and 
recesses short in duration. It will be noticed also that only a small 
number of children obtained perfect attendance records. The 
number of days was probably determined by agreement between the 
teacher and the trustees, and the work of instruction was con- 
ducted on a quarterly basis. The records indicate that some 
children attended one quarter only. 

A summary for the year 1799, drawn up by one of the commis- 
sioners, illustrates the form in which the " returns " were preserved 
by the commissioners. A similar " succinct account " may have 
been transmitted to the county treasurer. 

"An account of money paid to the Schools in the Year 1799 with 

the number of days of attendance and the Names of the Teachers 

as follows ,-r , 

No. of 

Names of Teachers Days Dolls. Cts. Mil. 

Thomas Grenell 1146 8 73 9 

James Quimbly 4843 36 93 i 

Robert Hunt 1283 9 78 3 

William Ferby 527 4 i 4 

James Lyons 7631 58 19 2 

do do 164 I 25 

Robert Gilmore 5386 41 7 2 



Amount of Money $159.99 

A succinct acc't by B. I. Bartow " ^^ 



"Records of the Town of Westchester, 1724-1839, 130. 



28 

On tlie whole, the town of Westchester seems to have comphed 
satisfactorily with the requirements of the law. During the years 
1795-99, five schools were established and operated successfully.^" 
No indication of break-down appears in the town records until 
1799, the last year for which the statute made provision. In that 
year the inhabitants of a certain section of the town complain 
that a long " time has elapsed since any Public School has been 
established in this most populous part of the town," and petition 
the board of trustees for a school.-'* The town records contain no 

^*The "school near the Widow Barlows," and the "school near Augustus 
Bartows " probably refer to one school. 
2° Records of the Town of Westchester, 1724-1839, 125. 
" Petition of Philip T. Livingston and others as regards Schools 
The Petition of the Subscribers, Inhabitants of the Town of Westchester 
To the Board of Trustees of Said Town of Westchester. 
Humbly Showeth 

That Whereas the Said Inhabitants being destitute of a School House 
there being none in the Square of about four miles Do therefore pray 

That the Trustees w'ill grant a piece of Land part of that now Lying in 
Common to a Committee in Trust for the purpose of erecting a School 
House thereon with as much land as they may consider necessary for such 
purposes and in such place as they may deem most convenient to the whole 
of the Said District. 

The Subscribers Cannot but Consent that so long a time has elapsed 
since any Public School has been established in this most populous part of 
the Town and believe for to encourage a good School a Quantity of Land 
annexed to the House will ever be the means of procuring Masters with 
Talents sufficient for just purposes. They therefore believe a portion of 
the present weast Land could not be better appropriated than for such 
purposes. 

Your Petitioners would further add that the Said School be erected by a 
Committee appointed annually by the Trustees of the Said Town of West- 
chester which said Committee shall be obliged to give Schooling to six 
poor Children of the said Town without fee as the Trustees of said Town 
may from year to year agree. 

Westchester, April i6th 1799 
Signed « i^Jjri 

Dom Lynch Robert Heaton 

Solomon Hustice Jonathan Fowler 

John Gillespie .Alford Livingston 

Israel Underbill A. Hammond 

John W. Livingston N. Bayard 

R. G. Merrit Philip J. Livingston 

Lewis H. Guerlius 
Walter Butler 
Thomas Baxter 
Lott Hunt." 



29 

further reference to this petition; in fact, this particular entry 
closes the official account of the part played by the town of West- 
chester in establishing schools in accordance with the provisions 
of the law. 

The democratic character of this enactment will be evident at 
once. It clearly indicated the organization of a district system, 
and placed in the hands of the people the responsibility for the 
administration of the schools. The people were permitted to elect 
the school officials — trustees and commissioners — who should 
represent them. The statute merely sketched the plan; to work it 
out successfully, the people were forced to rely upon themselves. 
In effect, the State said, erect schools and send your children to 
them, and we shall give you financial assistance. The greater the 
number of children who could be encouraged to attend, the larger 
the amounts of money that could be obtained from the State for the 
maintenance of the schools. The State was not yet ready to 
establish and maintain a statewide system of public elementary 
schools by levying a general tax for that purpose. At that time 
the doctrine of public elementary education supported by a com- 
mon tax was not established. The legislators of the day did 
believe, however, that the State should encourage the efforts of the 
people to educate themselves. 



APPENDIX 

The statute made special provision for New York City. In one 

section, it was " enacted that it shall and may be lawful for the 

mayor aldermen and commonalty of the city of New York . . . 

to cause as well the money so appropriated for encouraging and 

maintaining schools in the city and county of New York as the 

money to be raised in the said city and county for the same purpose 

by virtue of this act to be applied as well for the encouragement 

and maintenance of the several charity schools as of all other 

schools in which children shall be instructed in the English 

language or taught English grammar arithmetic mathematics and 
» 

Of interest in this connection are the following actions of the 
Common Council of the City of New York : ^^ 
Action of May 9, 1796: 

" Ordered that the Clerk publish an Advertisement in all the 
public News Papers ' That all Persons who have been employed 
in the city of New York teaching the English Language between 
the first Tuesday of April 1795 & the first Tuesday of April last 
past are requested to deliver into the office of the Clerk of the 
said City on or before the first day of June next an Account on 
Oath of the Number of Scholars taught by them respectively 
within the said Period and how long each of them were so taught 
and what Compensation has been received for the same.' " ^' 
Action of September 12, 1796: 

"A Representation of the Schoolmasters in this City on the Sub- 
ject of the Accounts by them rendered by order of this Board of 
the Number of Scholars by them respectively taught ; was read & 
referred to the Committee on that Subject." " 
Action of September 23, 1796: 

" The Committee on the subject of Schools made a verbal Report 
thereon And a Question was raised for the Consideration of the 
Board whether it would be proper to distribute any part of the 
Monies granted by the Legislature for the encouragement of 
Schools & the Monies raised by Tax in this City for that Purpose 
among the Schoolmasters or Teachers in this City? and it was 
determined unanimously in the Negative. 

2^ Minutes of the Common Council of the City of New York, 1784-1831. 
(These Minutes are in process of publication by New York City.) 
" Ibid, 2 :237. 
" Ibid, 2 :276. 

30 



31 

A Motion was then made that a parcel of the said Monies vizt 
£944 should be granted & distributed to & among the Charity 
Schools of the religious Societies in this City; upon which Debates 
arose & the Question being put on the said Motion it passed in the 
Affirmative. 

Ordered that Aldn Lenox & Messrs Storm & Janeway be a 
Committee to report to the Board the proportion of the said Sum 
to be granted to each of the said Charity Schools. 

Resolved that application be made to the Legislature at their 
next Meeting for legal provision to establish public Schools in this 
City." 2* 

Action of October 17, 1796: 

" Ordered that the Treasr or Chamberlain of this City receive 
from the Treasurer of this State of New York the Monies which 
the City & County of New York is entitled to receive by Virtue of 
the Act of the Legislature passed the 9th April 1795 entitled 'An Act 
for the encouragement of Schools.' " ^° 

Action of October 24, 1796: 

" The Committee appointed to report the proportion of the Sum 
of i944 part of the Monies granted by the Legislature for the en- 
couragement of Schools in this City Report that they have weighed 
every Circumstance and are of Opinion that the following Distribu- 
tion thereof be made which was agreed to by the Board vizt, 

issd The Episcopal Charity School £110 : — 

" The Presbyterian do 200 : — 

" The Reformed Protest Duch School 250 : — 

" The German Lutheran do 54 : — 

" The Scotch Presbyterian do 100: — 

" The African free School do 230 : — 



£944: 

Ordered that Mr. Mayor issue his Warrts on the Treasi 
paymt of the said several Sums accordingly. 

Mr. Recorder then presented to the Board a Memor' 
Legislature which was read & approved by the Board, p 
Law to enable this Board to establish one or more public Sch 
this City to be upheld & supported by the Monies granted I 
Legislature for the encouragement of Schools, Ordered tha 

2* Ibid, 2 :28i. 
25 Ibid, 2 '.294. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




^^ "0 ■ 022 " lis 434 4 ♦ 

Common Seal of this Corporation be affixed thereto and that Mr. 
Mayor subscribe the same on behalf of this Board."" 

Action of June 29, 1798: o , , • u- 

" A Representation of the Trustees of the African School m this 
City was read & referred to the Committee on the Subject of 
Schools And it was ordered that an advance of $250 out of the 
Monies granted by the Legislature for the encouragement of 
Schools be made to the said Trustees for the use of the said 
School. And that Mr. Mayor issue his Warrt on the Treasurer 
for paymt thereof accordingly."" 

26 Ibid, 2 :296. 
^ Ibid, 2 :452. 



